genessia | Video -- More of a Hawke, Really

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Video -- More of a Hawke, Really

[The video opens to what appears to be a rather ordinary man - dark hair, square jaw, and a smudge of something red over his nose. His face is too close to the screen, brow furrowed in concentration. It quickly melds into surprise, then disbelief - and maybe even a hint of amusement.]

And here I was, hoping I'd just landed in the Fade somehow.

[His tone is very light, and he sighs, pulling back from the phone enough that he inadvertently allows the camera to focus better on him.]

I'll have to admit to being at something of a loss. Attempts on my life usually don't come with instruction manuals. It's an interesting change, but I do prefer things a little more straightforward!

Oh. And if you are trying to kill me? I have to admit my head feels a little foggy and I appear to be unarmed, so it's probably a good time. We can talk about this whole thing, maybe get some drinks while you ramble on about your plan?

[There's a beat, Hawke looking around him, head tilted as if listening for an ambush. He shrugs.]

It was worth a try.

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[He chuckles, nodding.] Good show. I'm pleased to see some of you have taste.

[He frowned only slightly at the comment. Ah, so there is the explanation of annoyance.]

Doubtful. It's not as though the slave-catchers bought me a round and colored my opinion, nor do I approve of their business. Not all of us are monsters.

[He frowned.] Honestly, I'd caught wind of a nasty business involving some of my dear countrymen, and sought to end it. In my hubris, I thought our history would give him pause to listen to me.

Someone has to set the example.

Well, that's good to know. You need to work on your public relations, you know. Monsters are about the only thing I hear about. In fact I'm almost surprised you couldn't find any nasty business at home to work on.

[And there is a little pause, and a sardonic smile.]

No one ever listens to reason. Or lack of reason. Trust me, I try both often.

The nasty business at home was spreading rapidly. Best to keep it contained, first, deal with the source later.

[He heaves a sigh.]

Besides, someone ripped a hole in the sky and killed the Divine. Yours, that is. The inport and export of goods in Tevinter seemed to pale in comparison.

[That gets a sarcastic scoff.]

He did, after a fashion. He was desperate. Desperate men do desperate things, even if they know it's futile.

Edited 2017-09-24 02:52 (UTC)

Well, that sounds like something to look forward to. [He jokes because he's Hawke, and because what else do you do when someone gives you that information? He had enough that he was working on processing just then.]

...oh, I'm sorry. [There's a pause, a little on the side of the dramatic, yes, but that had never bothered him.] And here I was trying to listen to what you were saying. What was I thinking?

Oh, yes. Demons everywhere. It was pleasant. [And he means everywhere, but that was a story for another time.]

Yes, and I'm being a stupendous ass. You've only just arrived, and while your candor is admirable, I'm certainly not helping matters. The reputation of our respective countrymen notwithstanding, might I provide any assistance?

Don't cut yourself short, you were doing just fine until you compared a good friend of mine to a crate of spices.

[Apology aside, his tone is still a little tense. However he hasn't turned the video off, so that's something.]

I don't suppose you know where I could find a staff around here.

I see...I- [He breathes a sigh.] I apologize. It was thoughtless, but I can assure you, I don't think of slaves as common cargo. Countless are helpless people stolen from their homes, some are desperate men who made desperate decisions in order to provide for their families, or at least see to it their children not starve. I know the perspective isn't popular in my homeland. [He smirks slightly.] I'm not a social pariah because they envy my mustache...though they should. Many of my opinions aren't popular.

[He brings a hand to his chin thoughtfully.] I might at that, Hawke. Do you have an aspected preference?

I suppose if you can manage to consistently keep that position, and you and I can steer conversations closer to our impressive grooming and personal jibes I may be able to keep from booing you in the streets. On a trial basis.

[It was an offer, and one that he wasn't entirely sure of but it was there.]

As to my staff... Usually I just see what's shiniest of what's available.

I will if this deal with a shady privateer captain in Fayren falls through...of course I will. I realize that was in poor taste.

[He smiles.]

How kind of you. I'll rein in the comments about Fereldens and their relations with their dogs.

[He chuckles, but he only entertains the double entendre for a moment. Maker, sometimes he misses Sera.]

Is that a joke? Surely you have a preference, a...school of study or two on which you've focused? [He pauses.] Wait...you're an 'apostate', yes? Raised free of a circle? I mean, congratulations of course. I've heard from some of the southern mages what they lived with. Rather like a prison, really, but without formal training or a pool of knowledge beyond your family...

...I may be able to teach you a thing or two, Hawke, but that's for another time. How do you most like to greet your enemies? Ice? Fire? Electricity? Some combination thereof?

I think those still fall under 'personal jibes', though I'd imagine I've already heard them all so it's old territory.

[That, at least, was true enough. Honestly he'd be impressed if this man thought of a new one.]

Joke, no. Apostate, yes. Mostly it's a mix. Electricity for a nice handshake, and then of course I set them on fire. Sometimes I branch out if I get bored.

I'll have to do some research and get back to you, then. It wouldn't do to disappoint.

[It was a shaky truce, but a truce. He'd take it.]

So, a basic staff designed to channel various mana aspects, but not specialized in anything. An apprentice's staff. I thought better of the Champion of Kirkwall, but- [He shrugs.] to each his own.

[He pauses, a mischievous smirk curling his lips.] Does that count as a personal jibe?

I believe it would.

[He smiles, just a hint sharper.]

It's funny though, the way you seem to think less of someone with the actual skill to adapt to whatever weapon they have on hand. I suppose you need all the help you can get from a more specialized weapon.

[There's a brief almost mocking look of pity. Really, he's mostly amused.]

An apprentice's staff is rudimentary and restricts the amount of mana capable of being channeled at once in order to protect the user from their own untrained talents. It's a training staff. For children.

[He smirks.]

I can assure you I'm quite adept in the use of several different staff types.

That's funny. I don't remember saying anything about needing limiting. I assure you I've been using adult staffs just fine all this time. In fact, if you can see to actually telling me where I can get my shopping out of the way, I can stick to the tried and true.

[Hawke's lip curls in amusement.]

Good for you - I don't think I've heard someone so vocal about that since my friend Isabela.

That's because you didn't. I did. [He smiles, confident.] I could make one for you.

I- [His eyes narrow.] That is not what I meant.

That depends. Are you planning on making me a real one, or one for someone with no idea what they're doing?

[He didn't think it was an offer that he could turn down just yet, and he hadn't actually agreed to anything. With the other comment, he chuckles.]

Well, now I know you've definitely met Varric. Or possibly, Isabela.

[He smirks, but waves a hand as though to dismiss the thought.]

I've heard enough tales of your exploits to know better, Hawke, don't worry.

[You know, he might have a point about that.]

Why yes, I do know Varric. Where do you think I've heard about you?

I'll just keep it to the usual amount then. Though I suppose I should ask what you'll want from me in exchange.

[People tended not to do things for nothing. Well, he would every now and then, but he was only human. Besides. Typically there were some corpses to loot somewhere down the line.]

I didn't really give it much thought. I suppose knowing about her penchant wouldn't discount his finally getting a book together or something, but I'm still hoping he loses steam on that one.

[Mostly a joke.]

Normally, I would charge, but if I understand correctly, assuming you haven't spent any, you only have 500 redbills at the moment. I've never made it a rule to rob the poor, and you're something of a celebrity in my time.

[And you helped us escape the Fade once. That counts for something.]

A book? Varric has written several. He has an entire book series, mostly mindless drivel of the shallow, hard-boiled mystery variety, but it sells.

Well, at least it's good to know they didn't give me a generous amount of money. That would have been even more suspicious. If you insist, I don't have much else to barter on me at the moment anyway. Just some lyrium and a few odds and ends.

[He was a little suspicious of the offer, but he couldn't think of a reason not to take advantage of the charity.]

Oh, I know that much. I meant the way he kept on about writing one about me. He used to quiz Carver while we were about town - he hated it.

[Hawke's smile is only a little bittersweet, okay.]

[He chuckles at that.]

I think more or less is relative, given they've plucked us from home with a paid room and board. I don't know many kidnappers, but the tales I've heard paint a rather more dire picture. Either the stories are incorrect, or ransom isn't their intention.

[He nods.]

Ah, but he did write one about you.

I've run into a few. None of the kidnapees seemed to have been paid for the pleasure. I suppose it's possible they just didn't want to share.

[A shrug.]

Of course he did. When I'm home I'll have to tell him I got a staff out of it. I hope he left out the drinking games in the caves. [A moment's hesitation, and then further explanation.] Not that I have anything to be embarrassed about, but I need something to hold over Anders' head.

The nerve of some people.

[He shakes his head, smiling.]

He may have mentioned them, but not on paper. Your innocence is safe.

I wasn't the one making romantic overtures to the cave features. Or the cave denizens.

Well. Not that I can remember, anyway. I'm sure if I had someone would have rubbed it in my face already.

[That same chuckle of his.]

Careful with that, Hawke. Anything you don't remember can easily be filled in by an overly-imaginative dwarf with too much time on his hands.

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